These past two days, Xiuxiu's mother has been in high spirits, as if she's having a wonderful time.

He showed off everywhere, saying he was powerful and blessed with seven sons in a row.

He would tell everyone he met, "My Xiuxiu's dowry is twenty taels! Not to mention Qinghe Village, even in the surrounding area, no one would pay that much. Three daughters can't compare to one of my family's!"

“Yes, my Xiuxiu deserves this much. She takes after me and is very good at having sons! People with good taste are naturally willing to spend this much on betrothal gifts.”

“My son-in-law is really skilled. He runs a carpentry shop in town and is a craftsman. He can earn a couple of taels of silver a month, so our family is quite well-off. Whenever you want to buy tables and chairs or have doors and windows made, you can contact him, and he'll give you a discount.”

After Xiuxiu's mother finished playing her tune, she wagged her tail and went home.

Upon entering, I saw Hu Xiuxiu hanging clothes to dry, just like before.

Xiuxiu's mother couldn't help but smile: "Xiuxiu, have you figured it out?"

"Yes, I've figured it out, and I'm really looking forward to it." Hu Xiuxiu said without looking up, continuing to work.

Xiuxiu's mother breathed a sigh of relief: "Mother, it's all for your own good."

Just then, Huang the matchmaker walked in with a livid face.

Hu Xiuxiu glanced at the matchmaker, a slight smile playing on her lips, draped the last piece of clothing over the bamboo pole, and turned to leave.

"Huh?" Xiuxiu's mother wanted to say something, but the person had already gone inside.

Footsteps approached from behind, and Xiuxiu's mother turned around to see Matchmaker Huang. A smile immediately spread across her face:

"Why is Matchmaker Huang here? Has the Cai family set a wedding date? Oh dear, why the rush! But then again, the two young people are getting on in years, they should get married soon so they can hold their big, healthy grandson next year. Come in and sit down."

The matchmaker's face turned ashen, and she didn't know how to start the conversation.

Xiuxiu's mother was about to reach out and pull the person away when Huang the matchmaker pushed her away, saying coldly:

"As for the Cai family... they felt that yesterday's engagement was a bit impulsive. After thinking about it all night, they decided that they should take it slow."

Xiuxiu's mother was stunned: "What do you mean? I don't understand."

The matchmaker, Huang, didn't mince words: "The Cai family wants to break off the engagement! Xiuxiu's mother, you were too impulsive yesterday. For the sake of both families' reputation, you should break it off quickly. After all, it's only been arranged for a day, and no one knows yet."

Xiuxiu's mother was dizzy and confused. What did she mean by "it was scheduled for a day, and nobody knew about it"?

No, the whole village knows!

The engagement is already set, who would think it can't be told?

"Why did you break off the engagement?"

The matchmaker, Huang, was also furious. She said coldly, "Don't you know the truth yourself? You told me before that your eldest and second sons were working in the county town. Turns out, they're just sleeping at home!"

"These two lazybones are utterly useless. You're not marrying off your daughters, you're just finding suckers to raise your sons!"

Xiuxiu's mother's face changed drastically, and she said in embarrassment and anger, "I...I did say that my eldest son and second son were working in the county town...but that was several years ago."

"You asked that a few years ago! But they've come back in the last two years... you just didn't ask anymore!"

Upon hearing this, the matchmaker nearly died of anger:

"Pah! You're obviously just trying to fool people. This isn't fair of you. Call off the engagement now."

As she spoke, Matchmaker Huang took out Hu Xiuxiu's birth chart:

“Let’s exchange the betrothal gifts, tear up the engagement certificate, and return the one tael of silver that Mr. Cai, the carpenter, gave us. Then the marriage will be called off. Otherwise, no one will have any face.”

Xiuxiu's mother was furious: "Why? What family breaks off an engagement right away? What family just talks and does whatever they want?"

"Who do they think the Cai family is, some kind of noble family that they can just back out like that? With this marriage certificate in hand, even if the Emperor himself came, we would still have to get married!"

"You're the one who hid it from me..."

“Where did I hide anything? It’s just that you didn’t ask! Besides, my eldest and second sons are good people. They’re just a little weak and need to rest. They’re not troublesome.”

"You..." Huang the matchmaker was speechless with anger, "Hmph, don't push your luck."

"Am I shameless? It's clearly the Cai family that's shameless! They just break off the engagement like that, do they think we're their dogs? Even if we take this to the authorities, I'm not afraid of them!"

The matchmaker was so angry that she felt dizzy. Seeing that she couldn't continue the conversation, she turned around and left.

Xiuxiu's mother looked in the direction where Huang the matchmaker had disappeared, and then collapsed to the ground with a thud.

What kind of nonsense is this?!

Break off the engagement? They're dreaming!

Putting aside the fact that she searched for three or four years before finding a wealthy family willing to offer twenty taels of silver as a bride price, let's just talk about the present situation...

She had already spread the word throughout the village about her daughter's engagement.

Now, everyone in Qinghe Village knows that her future son-in-law is Cai the carpenter from town!

If she quits, won't she become the laughingstock of the whole village?

We cannot retreat! We must not retreat, even if it means death!

And what is the Cai family thinking? Not only do they demand the annulment of the engagement without any real commitment, but they also want that one tael of silver back? So stingy, don't they just die of anger?

Xiuxiu's mother clutched her chest, crawled back to her room, lay down on the bed, and groaned in anger.

Hu Xiuxiu saw everything that had just happened through the crack in the door, and a smile flashed in her eyes.

At that moment, she suddenly saw a small head sticking out of the gate, followed by one, two, three, four, and five—it was Hu Xiaosi and his group.

Hu Xiuxiu chuckled and waved.

The children then slipped into the house.

"Thank you for your hard work," Hu Xiuxiu said with a smile.

"It's not hard work, it's fun," Hu Xiaowu said.

Hu Xiuxiu's smile was tinged with a hint of sorrow.

Hu Xiaosi saw through her worries: "Sister, don't worry. That carpenter Cai is very stingy. He will definitely come to break off the engagement."

Hu Xiaoliu raised his little hand: "They wouldn't even give us boiled water to drink, they only gave us tap water."

Hu Xiuxiu patted their heads, feeling very sorry for them.

...

The matchmaker returned to town, seething with anger.

How did I end up in this mess!

After having a sip of tea at home, I reluctantly went to the carpenter's shop.

“Madam Cai, nephew, I’m not trying to be mean... although I was the matchmaker, it was you yourselves who agreed to the engagement.”

"Besides, no matter what, Xiuxiu didn't do anything wrong. How is she supposed to live if you suddenly break off the engagement?"

"How about you give the Hu family some compensation? That would make things easier for me, right?"

Cai's mother listened to some of what he said, but Cai the carpenter exploded:

"They're the ones who hid the fact that they have two lazy older brothers; they're the ones in the wrong. And they want me to compensate them? Why doesn't she just rob me!"

Matchmaker Huang was also stunned by Cai the carpenter's actions. She threw the marriage certificate and birth chart on the table, then took out two hundred coins and slammed them on the table.

"Here's your money back for the matchmaking! I'm not doing this job anymore. Whether you get married or break off the engagement, it's none of my business!"

As she spoke, the matchmaker Huang walked out, spitting out a curse as she went:

"Where did these two oddballs come from? They're a perfect match, a broken pot with a broken lid!"

"You wicked matchmaker! I will never marry Hu Xiuxiu. Who is worthy of her!"

"Oh, I didn't mean you and Hu Xiuxiu, I meant you and Xiuxiu's mother!"

Carpenter Cai: "..."

Cai's mother: "..."